On one of my earlist birthdays that I remember, my parents gave me a tape recorder similar to the one pictured above (but less curvy). Along with the tape recorder, I got my very first tape – a copy of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. For as long as I’ve been listening to music, I’ve been listening to Michael Jackson – and the songs have never gotten old. Michael’s music has accompanied me through every stage of my life. There are millions of people out there with a similar story regarding Michael and his music.

However, there are also millions of people without a similar story. As I browse through the various social networks I participate in, I am finding that when it comes to MJ, people fall into one of three categories. In category one are folks like me – folks whose lives have been greatly affected by his talent, folks who are saddened by his passing. In the second category are people who were not very much affected by his music, people who aren’t really moved by his death. I can understand where they’re coming from – if you were not affected by him and his music when he was alive, why would his death really matter to you?

The third category is made up of people who seem extremely annoyed and bothered that a likely child molester is getting so much positive attention. It seems ridiculous that people would mourn the death of a pedophile. The thing these people don’t seem to be understanding is that Michael was human. No human is just one thing. Michael was a troubled person, a talented musician, a father, and yes, a possible pedophile. Mourning the death of someone who has touched our lives the way Michael did does not mean that category one people approve of the things he was accused of, it simply means that that is not all we see of him. If Michael didn’t affect your life, fine, don’t mourn him. If you see him as a pedophile, that’s fine too, because there is some justification for that. However, whatever you feel about the man, it is not fair to hold it against the people who see more than the negative side of Michael Jackson.

I do think it’s pretty likely that Michael did molest some children and I have always been disgusted and disappointed by that possibility, but I can never forget the beautiful music he has brought to the world and to my life in particular. RIP MJ.

KCB:

Fully agree. I do not condone in any way, shape or form, the behavior of any pedophile, however #1, Michael Jackson was never CONVICTED of those charges, #2, there were some very shady circumstances behind the motives of the parents who filed the charges, and #3, what very few people talk about is that MJ clearly suffered from serious mental issues for quite some time now…and NO ONE can deny that. The media callously labeled him “Wacko Jacko” and ridiculed his every move, but mental illness is NOT something to joke about, it’s very real, both for the person suffering and for those around them.

I was not there in the room with him and those kids, so I will never know the real truth. However, and again, not to condone it, but I don’t think someone like Michael Jackson, who was the “humanitarian of humanitarians” WELL BEFORE the Angelina Jolie’s and Brad Pitt’s of the world, would EVER in his RIGHT MIND willingly hurt a child. He was a deeply disturbed man; sadly the product of being thrust into such a crazy world at such a young age. And while that early start is what helped create the legacy that he leaves behind (having had such an influence on not ONE, not TWO, but THREE generations within his 50-year life span), it also made for a roller-coaster ride of emotions and mental instability; further exacerbated by some heartless dubious people surrounding him.

My saddest regret today is not that he passed so young (because some might say he was finally put out of his misery given all the recent controversies and the media’s harassment of him), but rather the thought that at the moment of his passing, he might not have known how much positive support he had out their from fans who truly empathized with his situation and appreciated his talent and dedication to humanitarian efforts, instead of the swarm of negativity surrounding his last days…R.I.P. MJ, may you find peace and resolve in the afterlife…

EVE:

I just want to say rith on KCB, you put my thoughts into words and i won’t repeat the same thing ove. I am in such an emotional state behind Michaels death, i can’t even begin to explain… I only wish that at some point he felt the love that we his fans and extended human family felt and will continue to feel for him, his songs tell his story and before we point the finger we need to listen to what he was saying. He was and for ever will be and angel, a child at 50, a mentally disturbed human being just like it can happen to any of us… those that have the nerve to emphasize on MJ’s negative aspects, let me ask u, when did u reach out to help Michael?, where u ever truly concerned about his mental, emotional and physical stability… so how dare u attempt to dirty up his legacy and name… u should be ashamed of urself, but as i stated it’s only an attempt it won’t change the minds of those that can see far beyond what’s right in front of our faces. THE FACT IS WE LOVE MICHAEL AND HE WILL REAMIN ALIVE FOR THOSE OF US THAT LOVE AND CHERISHED HIS EXISTENCE… MAY UR SOULD REST IN PEACE MICHAEL AND MAY U RE-ENCARNATE AND GRACE US AGAING WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL LIGHT!!!!

Aaryn:

Thanks for this. Perfectly stated. I am still in shock and have not been able to put together words for how I’m feeling about his passing. You make a good point about people who were not deeply affected by his music. I assumed we all were, so I have been getting annoyed with people who keep asking me why I cried like I knew him.